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If you are considering joining the Project Management work force, you are in good company. As a profession, project management is expected to grow at a rate of 33% over the next decade, which is significantly faster than the national average job growth rate of 7%. This means that nearly 22 million international jobs will become available over the next ten years. So it seems like a very smart move to join this profession, especially if your skills include project creation, negotiation, leadership, budgeting, and closure. If you are considering this line of work, you probably know that a master’s degree would be beneficial, and if you are like many professionals who are currently seeking an advanced degree, you are looking to pursue the degree online. By choosing a school from this list of some the best online master of project management degree programs, you are assuring yourself a solid education with all the benefits of convenience and flexibility.
One other vitally important thing to consider as you work towards becoming a professional project manager—certification. The Project Management Institute (PMI®) is the name to know for all things project management. Offering resources such as the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®), accrediting project management programs and designating schools to be Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.), and offering the gold standard of credentials through the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification exam are just some of the things that PMI provides, but are the things of which most people entering into the field need to know. Only a handful of schools in the United States are accredited through PMI’s Global Accreditation Center (53 to be exact), and not even 100 schools are accredited worldwide. Most schools aim to align their project management master’s programs with the PMBOK guidelines and/or become an R.E.P. designated school in order to help prepare their students for the PMP exam as well as earn the required Professional Development Units (PDUs) to obtain credentials.
Preparing diligently and sitting for yet another exam may seem like signing up for a lot of extra work after getting a master’s degree—especially after studying for approximately two years. But here’s the good news: according to the tenth edition of the PMI’s Salary Survey, individuals with PMP certification can expect a 23% salary increase over their peers who do not possess the same credentials. Why is that? Well, for starters, since PMI is the standard by which Project Management is measured, it makes sense that gaining their stamp of approval means that your skills and expertise are the best of the best. You also show future potential employers that you have the commitment and the foresight to give yourself the advantage of the best possible preparation to be successful in project management. Your dedication and hard work to attain the highest level of recognition in the field shows off the very attributes that a Project Manager needs to be an asset in the workplace. So, help yourself get ahead, get that strategic job, and earn the salary you deserve—become a certified Project Management Professional!
MP®, PMI® and PMBOK® are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.